Introducing The RyanMax – Maximise Ryanair’s Free Baggage Allowance

Over the past 6 months the team at Smart Gear has been busy prototyping a flexible range of travel bags that will help the travellers keep their travel organised, minimise their airline luggage fees and maximise their mobility. We have been working on a range of four bags that we are about to launch on popular crowdfunding platform Kickstarter by the end of 2018.

Smart Gear team often fly with Ryanair. It came to no surprise when Ryanair out of the blue announced once again a change to its hand luggage policy. This one comes into force on the 1st November. Its new severely reduced free hand luggage policy set panic across Europe. Its new size of free hand luggage is now 40cm x 25cm x 20cm. Out of customer frustration, and after doing some research Smart Gear has taken action. We found out there are not many quality bags in the market that can maximise this allowance. The idea of the RyanMax was born and we adapted some of our future designs specifically for this bag. We are now proud to reveal the first RyanMax+ prototype part of two RyanMax bags.

Update: Lowcost airline WizzAir also has changed its luggage policy to make it similar to that of Ryanair.

The RyanMax+ 40x25x20 cm

The RyanMax+ is a 40cm x 28cm x 20cm (Ryanairs cage allows for slightly wider bags than the 25cm) backpack that has a technology compartment with a 15″ laptop / 10″ tablet compartment and a main compartment. We are also developing the RyanMax which will come without a technology compartment and will therefore have a larger main compartment as we realise not everyone is travelling with a laptop. Why would you, when like Smart Gear we use Ryanair to go on holidays or weekend trips away.

The RyanMax perfectly fits the 40x25x20 cm requirements of Ryanair and WizzAir flights.

Top Quality Materials And Water Resistant

Smart Gear prides itself on bags that look stylish. To also create robust bags to place as much items as our Ryanair customers want to put it. We understand that this hand luggage can only be engineered with the latest and top quality materials. The outer material of the bag is made of strong 900D Kodra dark heathered grey with a PU inner coating to keep it water resistant. The bottom of the bag is made of durable 1000D nylon, for when you but bag down. All external zippers except the secure back pocket are using YKK aquagard zips, historically known as the best on the market. The back of the bag has padded air-mesh as well as tunnels to facilitate airflow. All the straps we are made of the same material as car seat belts.

At Smart Gear we understand how much walking will be done with this hand luggage backpack.

Smart Bag Features

There are a lot of so called “smart bags” out there with built in batteries, location trackers and built in USB ports. Initially they looked like an innovative concept and then airlines started banning bags that had a built in fixed battery as they could not be moved to hold luggage. Since then these smart bags have evolved into ones with removable batteries. Smart Gear takes a different approach to the Smart Bag concept, we facilitate the use of travellers own extended batteries, USB or headphone cables and location trackers. This allows the traveller to select what works best for them. It also future proofs our bags against some technology changes, like the emergence of USB-C as the connector of choice.

Phone / Sun Glasses Pocket

The top of the bag has a fleece lined pocket to store sunglasses or a mobile phone. The pocket is large enough for the latest big screen phones. It also comes with an internal hole to allow a charging cable to feed through and connect it to an external battery inside the bag.

Battery Pocket

Inside the RyanMax is a mesh pocket to allow the storage of an external battery. You can feed the cable to the phone pocket or through the rubber cable hole at the top of the bag.

Tracker Pocket

At the bottom of the main compartment we have created a small zip pocket allowing for Bluetooth or GPS trackers to be stored.

Tracker pocket

Battery pocket

Technology Compartment

The technology compartment at the back of the RyanMax+ will hold a 10″ tablet as well as a 15″ laptop. The size of the laptop compartment can hold laptops of 25 cm (9.84″) wide by 36cm (14.17″) long, it fits the 3rd generation MacBook Pro. The tablet compartment can hold tablets of 17.5cm (6.89″) wide till 25.5cm (10.04″) long, it fits the 10.5″ iPad pro. The water resistant and lockable zip will keep your valuables safe.

The Main Compartment

The clam shell opening main compartment is designed to maximise the storage. Inside the lid there is mesh compartment. The front of the bag has 2 zipper pockets that have a waterproof zip each, easy for quick grab items. Our next prototype will feature anti theft loops to make it more difficult for thieves to access these pockets.

Bag Loop

A clever bag loop at the back panel allow the RyanMax to slide over a trolley handle.

Connecting Clips

The Ryanmax+ and the RyanMax come with a set of detachable connecting clips at the top of the straps. These clips allow you to connect this bag to our up and coming travel backpack and not having to wear this bag kangaroo style in front of you.

Compressible Packing Cube

To maximise the space Smart Gear developed a compressible packing cube which is made to fit the space of the RyanMax. A compression zip makes this this cube reduce size by 30%. The cube is made from strong materials and YKK zippers, it comes with a big padded handle to take it in and out easy.

Kickstarter

Smart Gear is on target to get the RyanMax range plus compressible packing cube ready for a launch date of Mid November on popular crowdfunding website Kickstarter. You can register your interest and we will keep you updated and give you access to Early Bird Discounts of 40% of the retail price.

RyanMax Kickstarter

Success!

About The Author

I am the founder of Smart Gear. I have travelled backpacking style since 1993 and visited a total of 52 countries. I now travel with my family, homeschooling and working as a digital nomad along the way.